Article-controlled marking means



Aug. 5, 1 947.

LACY-HUL BERT 2,425,249- ARTICLE-CONTROLLED MAKING MEANS Filed Aug.. 2. 19 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Den/Ls Lac -HulbcrT lnven ar 1947- D. LACY-HULBE RT' 2,425,249 7 ARTICLE-CONTROLLED MAKING MEANS Filed Aug. 2, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 new LC -Hul berf In vrn foF Patented Aug. 5, 1947 Application..-August1943;;Serial No. 4975066 InsGreat Britaindunej; 1942;

s ti meow 690;; Au s $11946 Patent expires June 5",- 1962;;

7 Claims; (01. 101935) 17.; This invention relates to apparatus for automatically marking-asuccession of -mQVihg articles,.- and is particularly suitable for apparatus for making batch markings on the lids of filled cans as they leave atfil'lir'ig' machine on a conveyon According ,=-to. this :invention' an apparatus :f or

automatically :marking .a travelling succession of I articles comprises: a marking: device, a drive therefor; atrigger :mechanism arranged to render said-.zdriveeoperative orinoperative, and adaptedito be engaged andwreleased b'yeeach article-in its passage 7 pastrit, wherebyithe marking device: on

er'ates on the articles in synchronism With their passage through the ma'chinee It :will 'be: appreciateds-with this arrangement that. the-apparatus I is automatically controlled @by the movement of the varticles through it; and.- isindependent of the spacing .015. the articles apart,: andxthus variations inathe spacings will; not; affect the positions of:

the-markings. on individualnarticles. Preferably,

the aforesaid cdrive is operated lcy a part ofthe mechanism which traverses the articles past the: marking rdevice tzwhich "arrangement :ensures that the=marking ofth articles isunafiectedf by changes of; speed of :the :traversing :m'echanism;

Forexample, ina machine embodying;a belt cone, veyom theaforesaid drivelmay compriseawheel anran edgfrictionallmto; engage .saidgbelt: conveyor; and means for transmitting the rotatione of th wheelto the marking-device.

The 5 drive rmayaalso comprise a;,fr.icti0n clutch capable of slipping; and the, aforesaid; trigger mechanism is arranged to lock-.andarelease ans l other part Ofithe drive between the marking device and the :frictionclutch, Whereby, .when.;then trigger mechanism is not:engaged .by, anianticle the drive is locked ;;and 'the';,-marking :device is stationary.-;

to engagethe articleit movesl fit it.;.

The marlging device may compris a .;rota;ting*- holder for. type-:Or;the -lil;e, 1and is; drivemat such; a ,speed; that its tang ntial velocityg-is equal, on nearly equal to -,the ;velocity of thearticles-xtherebyv r t els udein The type holder is: preferably arranged to xbereadily detachable from or assembled with-arm tatinfishaft-of said drive so that a-newlmarkgmay be quickly; assembled inzthe apparatus possibly without stopping the machine;which newtmark;

However,-- as soon. asqtherv trigger mechanism-is, enga ed by an article: thedrive commences and the marking device isaarrangedf 2.: ing the rotation of thelatter to -be brought into engagement with an---inking rollerr The inking -ro1ler may; be mounted to rotate freely onaspin'dle and is given a step by-step rotation by engagement with said moving type" so as to bring afresh-part of the roller on to 'the type successive operations.

The roller may be mounted w-ithin a casing having an opening-through -Whiclf=-said type is msbrough't into contact with the -roller; and a =-clo-'- sure memb'er :i :associated-- with the opening so that when the apparatus is-not in usethe-ink on the roller is kept from deterioration;- The mark ing--device'--and its-drive are so arranged-that thevaformer may be adJusted-towards and away from" the path of travel 0f the :article; sothat the aps paratus =is: appli'cable to "marking,- difierent sized" articles.

Prefe'r'ably, the-:marking device; itsdrive-and er mechanism: are constructed'as a unit capable ot ready attachment to a-machin over a conveyorf or said'articles.

The.=-fcl1'owing is a description of one embodi ment offithe inventi'onwarranged fop -marking-the lids-oi cans as they leave afi-lling-machine;=- ref erence-being madeoto the accompanying: draw ings,- in which-fit Figure, 1 is a.:perspective viewof theapparatus;

Fi'gurevzjjisl a cross section: through thestype holder spindle;

Figure-r 3I ls alongitudinal section through the holder;-

i ure 4 11s a-sectionthrough thednki-ng roller andlits casingutaken along theplane 4 -4 of 5,-and:;

Figure 2 5zis. a secticn' onthe line "E -5 0i fig ureAg Thelapparatus comprises a bracketarm l0 ar-- ranged :gfon attachment to a part of the filling machine beneath the be1t2'con-veyor- C "which car ries therfilledcan's away from the machine: The bracket :arm extends beyond theedge of-the beltand-.isV-=provided with alblock H i in-whichis formed: a square-isectio'ned socket for slidably v engagingla quare-upright.12. The upper end of and.ionh-thelother side an anchorage for a type 1i holder 1 63 The. aforesaid block is also provided with a vertically-1:. disposed screw threa'cled bore WhiChfziS :engaged by a threaded adjusting ysha-ft I 1 ziwhich iserotatablymounted" at F its -other-extremityuin-itheaforesaid bearing member, '--but is fixed against axial movement therein by two collars I8 and I9. The lower extremity is provided with a manipulating knob 20 and thus by rotating the knob the aforesaid shaft l1 and its type holder anchorage may be moved towards and away from the belt conveyor. That part of the block which embraces the square-sectioned upright is split at 2| and is provided with a clamping bolt 22, whereby the frictional engagement between the block and the upright may be adjusted. A weighted cantilever arm 23 is mounted to swing about the aforesaid horizontally-disposed shaft l4, and for this purpose is provided with a forked extremity 24 which straddles the aforesaid bearing member l3 and is provided with holes through which the shaft l4 extends. The other extremity of the cantilever arm is provided with a bearing 25 through which a second horizontally disposed shaft 26 extends. Secured to this shaft on one side of the bearing is a friction clutch includin a disc 21 provided on the outside face thereof with a friction lining, and rotatably mounted on the shaft is a pulley wheel 28 having a face thereof maintained in engagement with the friction lining by means of a compression spring 29 which encircles the shaft and abuts at one end against an adjustable collar 30 on the shaft and at the other end abuts against a thrust bearing 3| disposed between it and the pulley Wheel 28. A flexible belt 32 is arranged to ncircle the two pulleys 28 and I5. Secured to the second shaft 26 on the opposite side of the bearing to the pulley is a comparatively heavy friction wheel comprisin a metal boss 33 having a groove formed therein in which is mounted a rubber ring 34 arranged to engage the belt conveyor, the weight of the cantilever arm and the boss ensuring sufficient frictional engagement between the ring and the belt conveyor. Mounted on one side of the smaller pulley I is a trigger arm 35 Which extends beyond the periphery of the pulley and is arranged to be engaged by trigger mechanism about to be described. The trigger mechanism comprises an upright shaft 36 which is capable of oscillating in bearings formed in an extension 3! of the aforesaid block I l and in an extension 38 of the bearing l3 at the upper end of the aforesaid upright. The upper end of the oscillatable shaft is provided with a detent arm 39 which may be swung into and out of the path of movement of the extremities of the trigger arm 35 on the aforesaid pulley. .A spring wire 49 is arranged to extend downwardly from the extension on the aforesaid upper bearing member and is arranged to engage the shank of a set-screw 4| carried by asleeve 42 which is vertically adjustable along the oscillatable shaft by releasing and tightening said set-screw, as well as being rotatably adjustable thereon. The spring wire is so shaped as to exert a torque in the clockwise direction on the set-screw, thereby urging the detent arm into the path of movement of the aforesaid trigger arm. Also rotatably and longitudinally ad- J'ustable on the oscillatable shaft is a socket member 43 having a horizontally extending screw-threaded bore which carries a threaded rod 44 which projects into the path of movement of the articles on the conveyor band. The extent of the projection of the rod across the width of the conveyor band may be adjusted by rotating the threaded rod in the threaded socket by means of the manipulating knob 45, a clamp nut 46 being rovided for holding the rod in any desired position. The height of the rod above the belt may be adjusted by the movement of the socket on the oscillatable shaft.

It will be appreciated with this arrangement that the detent arm 39 normally engages one end of the trigger arm 35,. but so soon as the rod 44 is engaged by a filled can approaching the marking device the detent arm 39 is swung away against the action of the spring 40, thus permitting the upright shaft 36 to rotate. By the time the can has come out of enga With the rod 44 the can will have been marked and the detent arm will spring back in time to engage the other end of the trigger arm.

The type holder 16 (see Figures 2 and 3) is provided with a bore 41 which is an easy sliding fit on the upper horizontally extending shaft l4 and which has a slotted projection 48 on each side thereof, each capable of, holding rubber type T removably inserted therein. A pin 49 is arranged to extend axially from one of the projections and engages a hole in a collar 50 which constitutes a part of a type holder anchorage. The collar is provided to one side thereof with a circumferential groove 5| which partly intersects the hole which engages the pin. A spring ring 52 is mounted in this groove and is arranged to engage a notch formed in one side of the pin, thus forming a spring detent. The type holder also includes a bush provided with a suitably shaped gripping piece 53, whereby it may be readily slid on to and off the shaft.

The bearing at the upper end of the aforesaid square-sectioned upright is provided with an extension'54 to one side of the bush which carries the upper shaft [4, which upward extension carries an eccentric bush 55 rotatable in the extension and provided with a set-screw 56 for 10- cating it in a required angular position. A spindle 51 is arranged to extend horizontally through the extension bush and is formed with a flat surface 53 which is engaged by a setscrew 59, whereby the spindle may be adjusted in an axial direction and may be fixed in a desired position against rotation by means of a set-screw. Secured to the end of the spindle is a container for an inking wheel. The container comprises a disc 60 having a circumferential rim 6| which is slotted so as to permit the type, during the rotation of the type holder, to project through the rim. The disc is provided with a central boss 60a by which it is attached to the spindle 51. A disc 62 and cutaway rim portion 63 are nested within the rim 6| and are provided with a central spindle 64 on which an inking roller 65 is freely mounted. The end of the spindle 64 is arranged to extend into a bore formed at the end of the spindle 51. By relatively rotating the nested portions the inkin roller may be entirely enclosed between them, when the apparatus is not in use, as set out above. The inking roller may comprise a disc of wood around which is secured a felt band 66, which wood disc is provided with a central metal bush 61. The felt band may be brought into the required engagement with the type by adjustably rotating the aforesaid eccentric bush 55.

With the above arrangement, the inking roller cannot be assembled on the machine unless it is encased in the above manner.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for automatically marking a succession of articles moved by a conveyor belt, comprising a wheel arranged frictionally to enage said belt so as to be driven thereby as the belt travels, a marking device, a drive for said marking device actuated by said 'wheel and embodying a clutch, a triggermechanism arranged to arrest said device and to render inoperative the drive of the marking device by the clutch, which trigger mechanism is arranged to be operated by the passage of each article past it as it is moved by said belt so as to release said device.

2. An apparatus for automatically marking a succession of articles traversed by a conveyor belt, comprising a wheel arranged frictionally to engage said belt so as to be driven thereby as the belt travels, a marking device, a drive for said marking device actuated by said wheel and embodying a slipping friction clutch, trigger mechanism adapted to arrest the marking device and to render inoperative the drive of the marking device by the clutch, and tripping means for said trigger mechanism actuated by the passage of an article as it is moved by said belt past the trigger mechanism.

3. An apparatus for automatically markin a travelling succession of articles on a conveyor comprising a support adapted to be attached to a fixed part of the conveyor, a rotatable marking device, a spindle carrying the marking device, a pulley on said spindle and an arm articulately mounted on said support, a friction wheel rotatably mounted on said arm and adapted to engage frictionally a travelling surface of the conveyor, a pulley attached to the friction wheel, a belt connecting the two pulleys, a friction clutch disc mounted for rotation with said friction wheel and engaging said secondmentioned pulley, a trigger mechanism normally adapted to hold the first-mentioned pulley so that said clutch disc slips, which trigger mechanism is provided with a part arranged in the path of movement of said articles as they are moved by said conveyor and when engaged by an article releases said first-mentioned pulley.

4. An apparatus for automatically marking a succession of articles on a travelling carrier, comprising a marking device, means including a slip clutch for moving said marking device into engagement with each article as it passes the marking device, said means also including means engaging the carrier for driving the clutch at a speed proportional to that of the carrier, a trigger mechanism adapted to arrest said device and to render inoperative the drive of the marking device by the clutch, said clutch permitting continued rotation of said driving means and tri ger-releasing means actuated by each article as it moves past said last-mentioned means on said carrier.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 4 characterized by said marking device including a printing member rotatively mounted adjacent said carrier.

6. The apparatus defined by claim 4, characterized by said marking device including a rotatable spindle, a type holder mounted thereon and a drive connecting said clutch to said spindle.

7. An apparatus for automatically marking a succession of articles moved by a conveyor belt, comprising a marking device, means engaging the belt for driving said marking device at a speed proportional to that of said belt, said means embodying a clutch, a trigger mechanism arranged to arrest said marking device and to render inoperative the drive of the marking device by the clutch, which trigger mechanism is arranged to be operated by each article as it is moved past the trigger mechanism by said belt so as to release said device.

DENIS LACY-HULBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 915,278 Dolphin Mar. 16, 1909 1,214,632 Woodward Feb. 6, 1917 1,290,509 Chandler Jan. 7, 1919 1,496,331 Wheelock June 3, 1924 1,796,224 Tempestini Mar. 10, 1931 1,803,323 Evans May 5, 1931 1,845,726 Scott Feb. 16, 1932 2,172,318 Ferguson Sept. 5, 1939 2,006,204 Lipstiz June 25, 1935 448,219 Foley Mar. 17, 1891 240,773 Schmidt Apr. 26, 1881 391,228 Burbank Oct. 16, 1888 774,761 Krag Nov. 15, 1904 152,333 Chamberlain June 23, 1874 

